Media’s Reaction of McDonald’s in Russia

McDonald's in Russia
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At the beginning of the Ukraine War, McDonald's became one of Russia's most controversial foreign brands. The media's reaction to McDonald's in the country was largely adverse, with many outlets criticizing the fast-food chain for its association with the West. The most prominent criticism came from the Russian government, which accused McDonald's of promoting an anti-Russian agenda (Lim et al., 2022). Other media outlets argued that McDonald's was guilty of ignoring the plight of the Russian people and instead focusing on increasing their profits. This discussion evaluates how the media reacted to McDonald's in Russia during the Ukraine wars commencing by focusing on Indian, American, and Russian Media.
Indian Media
McDonald's in Russia was met with various reactions from the Indian media. The most notable response was the criticism of McDonald's for continuing to operate in Russia despite the conflict. Many commentators argued that McDonald's should take a stand against the Russian government's aggression policies and Crimea annexation (Lakhera, 2022). Furthermore, some Indian media outlets suggested that McDonald's should close its restaurants in Russia to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine. At the same time, there were some voices supporting McDonald's. They argued that McDonald's should be allowed to continue operating in Russia, as it provided jobs and economic benefits to the local people. The Indian media also saw McDonald's presence as a symbol of global economic integration, and a sign that economic relationships between Russia and India were still strong.
American Media
The reaction of American media to McDonald's in Russia at the beginning of the Ukraine War was significantly adverse. Many reports accused McDonald's of being complicit in Russia's attempt to influence the war through its presence in the country (Chatterjee, 2022). In particular, McDonald's was criticized for its long history of close ties with the Russian government and its perceived support for Russia's anti-Ukraine policies. At the time, there were reports of McDonald's locations in Russia providing meals to Russian soldiers in Ukraine and reports of McDonald's locations bein...